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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommends lowering the legal limit to drink and drive from 0.08 to 0.05 percent, reports Huffington Post.

If adopted, this new level would match the legal limit to drink and drive in countries that have dramatically cut their numbers of DUIs. For instance, the 0.05 legal limit has been widely adopted in European countries. As a result of this strict measure, the number of traffic deaths attributable to DUIs has fallen by more than half in some of these countries. So how would the new legal limit affect drivers in Washington?

For starters, you will have to drink much less if you plan on driving. For example, a 120-pound woman can reach 0.05 percent with only one drink. And a 160-pound man can reach that level with only two drinks. So the smartest thing that you can do if you plan on enjoying a drink or two may be to avoid driving.

While the NTSB has recommended the lower legal limit, drivers should be aware that the agency has no law-making authority. Instead, it will be up to each individual state to adopt the 0.05 standard. It can take many months for the conversation to get started, and years before legislation is even proposed.

In Washington, lawmakers have just recently adopted tougher DUI laws and penalties. However, the state is relatively progressive when it comes to combating DUI, and you can expect lawmakers to strongly consider lowering the legal limit.

If you have a question about the rapidly evolving drunk driving laws in Washington or if you need advice about a drunk driving case in the Seattle or King County areas, contact a DUI attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense. You can reach us by calling 425-284-2000.

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About the Author

A former DUI prosecutor, Aaron Wolff has over 16 years of experience in representing people accused of DUI and is recognized as one of the leading defense lawyers in Washington State. His relentless and passionate advocacy has lead to superb ratings and outstanding reviews from former clients.